Razor



G. HAMMOND Jan. 22, 1946.

' RAZOR Filed Sept. 21, 1 943 Patented Jan. 22, 1946 umran STATESPATENT'IOFFICE Grant Hammond, West Haven, Conn, assignor to Frank Kenna,New Haven, Conn.

Application September 21, 1943, Serial No'. 503,193

Claims. (01. so- 73) This invention relates to safety razors, and moreparticularly to the type of such razors employing a double-edged, thin,flexible blade which is clamped between two members, usually designatedas guard and cap members, so that the blade is curved when the razor isadjusted for use.

Such razors normally consist of a cap member, a guard member, and ahandle member, which alsoserves to secure jthecapand guard memberstogether withthe blade clamped therebetween. Usually the cap member isprovided with a concave-inner or upper surface adjacent the blade, sothat, when the clamping action takes place, the center of the blade willbe depressed into this concavity, thus resulting in a deformation of theblade into a transversely curved shape, with the cutting edges of theblade projecting beyond the cap. e

In the use of such razors the cutting angle at which the blade edge isdisposed is determined by the pressure with which the cap and guard areclamped together, and, while this pressure may be varied, as a practicalmatter the blade will only be satisfactorily secured tightly in place inone position, and hence in practice no adjustment is possible to varythe closeness of the shave obtained. This results from the fact that ifthe pressure between the cap and guardmembers is relieved to vary thecutting angle of the blade, the latter will not be securely held inplace, and will not operate in a. satisfactory manner. Therefore, as amatter of fact, there is no way inthe ordinary razor of adjusting theblade for a close shave or otherwise.

One object of the present invention is to provide a safety razor of thetype described, whereby the angle of the blade may be adjusted withrespect to the guard member of the razor to obtain a light or a closeshave, as desired, while at the same time the blade will be firmly heldagainst the cap member at all times. 7

Still another object of the invention is to provide a razor of thecharacter described in which the parts may be readily disassembled forclean- A still further object of the invention is toprovide a razor ofthe class described, in which indicating means are provided to indicateto the.

.user the setting of the razor, so that he may be able to ascertain thecloseness of the shave to be had from the instrument at any time.

To these and other ends the invention consists in the novel features andcombinations of parts to-be hereinafter described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawing:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of a razor embodying my improvements;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view on line 2-2 of Fi 1;

Fig, 3 is a sectional view on line 3-3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional view on line 4-1 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 4, showing the parts in a differentposition of adjustment; and

Fig. 6 is an exploded perspective view of parts of the razor head.

To illustrate a preferred embodiment of my invention I have shown arazor comprising a cap member III, a guard member II, and a handlemember I2.

As-shown, the cap member is provided with a curved or convex outer orlower face J3, and a curved or concave inner or upper face I4. I Uponthe upper face of this member are positioned a pair of studs I5 and ashank [6. The studs l5 are designed toenter the end portions ll of anopening I8 in the double-edged flexible blade l9,

. and the shank I6 is also designed topass through the central portionof this opening. It will, of course, .berunderstoodthat the studs serveas a convenient means for positioning the blade I9 to be received in theopening 26.

in relation to the cap 10, but that other means 1 may be employed forthis purpose if desired. The

guard l l of the razor is provided with a flat upper face 20 and aconvexly curved lower or inner face 2|, this last face being opposed toand having a shape complemental to the convex face ll of the cap Ill.Adjacent its edges the uard is provided with longitudinal slots oropenings 22," and guard rails 23 at each longitudinal side edge beyondthese openings. This member is also provided with a central opening 24to receive the shank l6 and an opening 25 on each the blade transverselyto conform to the shape of the surface [4 of the cap. Such anarrangement will hold the blade firmly in place, and provide for asatisfactory shave at one shaving or cutting angle, but will permit ofnoadjustment of this angle for a light or closeshave. This will be true,because, if the handle I2 is backed off 01' unscrewed with relation tothe shank it, while the angle of the cutting edge of the blade will bechanged,,the blade will no longer be satisfactorily held, and itscutting edges supported firmly'between the guard and cap member. Such arazor is, therefore, as a practical matter only designed to givesatisfactory performance when the handle is screwed down tightly againstthe guard.

In order that the cutting angle of the blade may be changed:to give aclose or a light shave, and at the same time to provide that the bladebe clamped tightly against the cap member, and that. its edge be firmlysupported upon both sides, I provide a flexible or resilient plate 23adapted to be disposed between the guard member and the blade. Thisplate, as shown, is provided with openings 29 through which. may passthe studs 15, and with an opening'30 for thereception of the shank I6.It is also providedat each end with a resilient or spring clip designedto be received in recesses 32 inthe ends of the guard member H, and toclamp over the upper surface of this guard member, .as shown in Figs. 1and 2. These spring clips may preferably be formedintegrally with the.plate 28 and of the same stock, and provide a convenient means forsecurely and firmly but detachably securingtheplate 28 to the. guardmember I i. The plate will, therefore,

when the parts of the razor are disassembled; be'

ordinarily carried by and remain secured to the guard member, but it maybe readily removed therefrom and replaced thereupon, if desired, for

will be flexed or crowned to some extent when.

clamped tightly between the cap and guard, it will, nevertheless, besufficiently firm and rigid to hold the blade at points adjacentthecuttingedges firmly against the edge of the cap.

As shown, the member 23 is of substantially the same dimensions withrespect to the'length tive positions of the cap and guard are adjustedby the screwing of the handle l2 upon the shank I6, and that the handlewill screw, very easily upon the shank until the flexible plate 28 iscrowned or curved by the pressure therebetween, and that after thisoccurs the screwing of the handle upon the shank will meet withincreasing resistance. In order that the adjustment between the partsmay be readily indicated so that the user may be advised of theadjustment without having to secure the proper adjustment by trial anderror, the upper surface 20 of the guard member H is provided with aplurality of indicating marks 34, and the handle is provided with apointer 35 to cooperate with these marks.

After the user of the razor has determined the setting ofthe' partswhich will best suit his purposes, the pointer 35 may always be turnedback to the same indicating mark when the parts of the razor arebeingassembled.

In ig- 4 of. thedrawing I have shown the parts of the razor in thepositions. which they. will occupy when the handle 12 is screwed downtightly upon the shank I6. It will be noted that in this position of theparts the plate 28 is curved to conform substantially to the lowersurface 2| of the guard and the uppersurface- IA of the cap. Thisposition of the parts will result in a very. light shave, as it will beseen that the blade isso curved that its cutting;edge will lieclose tothe lower surface of the ,guard. Howevenwhen the handle l2'is backedoff, as-shown in Fig. 5,-the blade angle, is changed,-and particularlythat of the cuttingedges thereof, sothat. the latter lie at a greaterdistancefrom the guard to give a closer shave, As the blade angle is notonlychanged to some extent but also the cutting edge thereof lies atagreaterdistancefrom the guard, the shaving action of-=the blade will beg reatly altered. It -will,;- of course, be understood that anypositionof the parts between thoseshown, in Fig. 4 and Fig. 5;may beobtained as desired, according to the results which are acceptable to Vtheuser. It will also be. obviousthat-in eitherand width as the uppersurface 14 of the cap member 10, so; that the cutting edges of theblade, as shown in Figs. 4' and 5, will project slightly beyond the sideedges of the plate 28, the amount of this projection being substantiallythe same as the amount of the projection of the blade edges beyond theedges of thecap. Therefore, the blade will be held firml between the capand the plate 28. adjacent and .along'its cutting edges,.'regardless.ofthe adjustment of 'therelative positionsof the cap and guard.

It will, of course, be understood that the relaposition of the partsthe-bladeedges; are firmly supported and securely held between thecap=and theplate 2 8 regardless of the adiustmentzof theparts, the plate28;, whilefiexible u der pressure, being sufficiently stilt-and rigjdtoeffect this, result. v

While I have shown anddescribed a preferred embodiment of"my'in-vention, it: will be under, stood that it is not to be limited to.alliof the-details shown, but i gcapable of modification and variationwithin the spirit of theinvention: and withinthescopeof-theclaims.

What. claim is: 1" 1.' A ra zo r comprising a cap: member and a guardmember; a handle member; for; adiustably Securing h an and.guardmembersztogether: to. clam a razor; blade ltherebetweenfsaid guardmember having .a. smocthiconvexlouter surface and said cap member having:a complementary.

concave inner surface to effect flexing of the. blade, said. uard.member having; openings; adjacent itsied'gesgarr initially fiatpflexibleplate resting upon theiouter surface ofrtheiguardjmem; her to. overliethe latter and lie'betwen' it and the blade, the) side edges. of saidplate extending to clamp a razor blade therebetween, said guard memberhaving a smooth convex outer surface and said cap member having acomplementary concave inner surface to effect flexing 'of the blade,said guard member having openings adja-.

cent its edges, an initially flat flexible plate rest-. ing upon theouter surface of the guard member to overlie the latter and lie betweenit and the blade, the side edges of said plate extending to saidopenings, to support the blade adjacent its cutting edges, and saidplate having spring members at its ends to engage the end portions ofthe guard to detachably secure the plate to the guard,

3. A razor comprising a cap member and a guard member, a handle memberfor adjustably securing the cap and guard members together to clamp arazor blade-therebetween, said guard member having a smooth convex outersurface and said cap member having a complementary concave inner surfaceto effect flexing of the blade, said guard member havingopeningsadjacent its edges, an initially flat flexible plate resting upon theouter surface of the guard 4. A razor comprising a cap and a guard, ahandle member for adjustably securing said members together to clamp arazor blade against the cap, said cap having a concave inner surface, anintermediate flexible blade-supporting member resting upon the outersurface of the ent of said handle member for securing saidblade-supporting member to the guard to hold said supporting member andguard in assembled relation, when detached from the handle.

5. A razor comprising inner and outer bladeclamping members, a handlemember for adjustably securing said clamping members together to clamp arazor blade'against the outer member, said outer member having a concaveinner surface, an intermediate flexible blade-supporting member restingupon'the outer surface of the inner member between the latter and theblade to hold the blade against the outer member, and means independentof said handle member for securing said blade-supporting member to theinner clamping member to hold said last-named members in assembledrelation when detached from the handle, said means comprising clipscarried by said supporting member and extending outwardly therefrom toengage the side edges of the inner clamping member.

GRAN T HAMMOND.

